BattHawk™

BattHawk™: The BattHawk™ is designed and manufactured by Muncie/Delaware Robotics, Team 1720 (PhyXTGears). The BattHawk™ is a voltmeter which can take the place of a battery flag. The BattHawk™ measures the battery voltage without discernible drain during a competition time frame. Benefits of this product include the following:

Immediate visual check of all batteries not currently being charged or in use

Voltage range from 4.5 volts to 30 volts (Accuracy 1%)

Low trickle-drainage (16 ma,, one five thousandth the current of a driving robot)

Measures state of charge (SOC)

Replaces the Battery Flag, meeting the UL safety requirement

Instant comparison of available batteries

Provides “grab-and-go” of the highest charged battery in the pit or robot cart

When used with am-2070a Power Pole Adapter, BattHawk™ can be used with TETRIX® or FTC batteries

*Not a substitute for the Battery Beak which tests the battery under load

This product is especially useful for rows of batteries. When testers are plugged into each battery in the line, the status of all batteries is always visible. This allows for monitoring of the charge of each battery with just a glance.

The BattHawk™ is angled such that the voltage display is not blocked during insertion.

A BattHawk™ may be left in a battery for weeks without harming the battery. However, batteries SHOULD NOT BE STORED with the BattHawk™ inserted as it will eventually discharge the battery fully (about 47 days). Finally, the purchase of the BattHawk™ helps fund ongoing team efforts.

How to Use: 1) charge battery, 2) unplug from charger, 3) test battery with Battery Beak, 4) plug in BattHawk™, and 5) get constant visual status of all batteries!

Recommendations:

12.0 and below – seriously? Put that one on the charger

12.1 – 13.0 – Practice ready – go break your robot

13.1-13.3 – Competition ready – head directly to Einstein

Testimonials:

“Our team used the BattHawk™ to be sure our batteries are “ready to go” as we zoom out of the pits to the next match! It has allowed us to grab a fresh battery when we’re in a hurry from the practice field directly to a match!” – John

“During the playoffs, we had four charged batteries on our cart ready to go. In the heat of the battle it’s sometimes confusing which batteries are fully charged and which one just came from our robot’s last match. With a BattHawk™ plugged into every battery, the choice is obvious! Just ‘grab ‘n’ go’!” – Mike

“Just for grins, we inserted several BattHawk™s into our batteries back at home, and the battery stayed fully charged for over a week…when we stopped our test. We calculated that our standard 18Ah (amp hour) robot batteries would last 1,125 hours with a continuously attached BattHawk™. That’s 46+ days! Yep, we love this device!” – Rob